The inner logic of digital anxiety
A Self-Determination Theory perspective on the motivational transformation of Fear of Missing Out
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22080986 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Han-Lin Hsiung (University of Kang Ning), Hua-Ling Hu (0000-0002-6590-7864, National Taipei University of Business), Huiling Hu (0000-0001-6984-9377, National Taipei University of Business) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Pages | 1741670-1741670 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-25 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1741670 |
| PMID | 41822931 |
| OpenAlex | W7131357881 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 19 |
Introduction: Social media addiction among university students has been increasingly associated with psychological vulnerabilities, particularly Fear of Missing Out (FoMO). Drawing on Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), this study examines the associations between autonomous motivation, social media competence, social support, FoMO, and social media addiction, and investigates the moderating role of prosocial orientation. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 422 university students in Taiwan. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the hypothesized associations among autonomous motivation, competence, social support, FoMO, and social media addiction. A moderation analysis was conducted to test the interaction effect of prosocial orientation. Results: Autonomous motivation, social media competence, and social support were significantly negatively associated with FoMO. FoMO was significantly positively associated with social media addiction. In addition, prosocial orientation significantly moderated the relationship between FoMO and social media addiction, such that the positive association was stronger among individuals with higher levels of prosocial orientation. Discussion: The findings highlight the psychological associations between motivational resources, FoMO, and addictive social media behaviors. By integrating SDT and SEL perspectives, this study provides a more comprehensive understanding of digital anxiety and underscores the context-dependent role of prosocial orientation in digitally mediated social interactions
Addiction · Moderation · Prosocial behavior · Social anxiety · Social media · Structural equation modeling · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports · Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
Basic psychological need theory
PLS Path Modeling
Fear of missing out (Fomo)
Online Social Networking and Addiction—A Review of the Psychological Literature
Promoting Positive Youth Development Through School-Based Social and Emotional Learning Interventions
Interactional theory of childhood problematic media use
College students’ academic motivation, media engagement and fear of missing out
Motivational, emotional, and behavioral correlates of fear of missing out
Fear of missing out, need for touch, anxiety and depression are related to problematic smartphone use
The relationship between addictive use of social media, narcissism, and self-esteem
“I don’t want to miss a thing”
Self‐Regulation and the Problem of Human Autonomy
Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being
Mid-Adolescents’ Social Media Use
The Impact of Enhancing Students' Social and Emotional Learning
Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis
| Highly cited | No |
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